Fluid-treating apparatus



- Sgpt. 9, 1930.

y. L. TANNEHILL 7 1,775,412

FLUID I TREATING APPARATUS Filed April 25, 1928 Patented Sept. 19, 1930UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VENNON L. TANNEHILL, 01 FORT WAYNE, INDIANA,ASSIGNOR TO FORT WAYNE ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING 00., OF FORT WAYNE,TNIDIANA FLUID-TREATING APPARATUS Application 'filed April 25,

1 This invention relates to a fluid-treating apparatus.v

In fluid-treating devices, such for instance as water softeners, waterheaters, or other fluid-treating devices, it is usually the case thatthe device will operate satisfactorily where a relatively small flow offluid from the device is required, but when peak loads 1 occur, it hasbeen found that the devices do not come up to the requirements of thepeak loads, and consequently only imperfectl 7 treated fluid isdelivered. On the other han from, the incomin 25 cl .the fluid-treatingmember, so that the uid within the apparatus is subjected severaltreating apparatus, which is so constructed that when any 10a s areplaced upon the device, that is when fluid is'withdrawn therefluidcauses a rapid circulation of the flui within the apparatus ast times tothe uid-treating member. Consequently the maximum efliciency of thefluidtreating member, and the maximum capacity of the apparatus isutilized without any loweringin the effectiveness of the treatment,

and-without requiring a large size apparatus. 1 Further objects are torovide a fluidtreating apparatus,"in whic a fluid-treating member iscarried within a casing, and inwhich the incoming fluid operates meansfor "withdrawing fluid from one portion-of the casing and discharging ittogether with the incomin fluid adjacent the fluid-treating apparatusrom another point of the casing, so that there is no possible chance ofa stagnant condition occurring adjacent the fluid-treating member.-

Embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawing, inwhich The figure in the drawing is a view partly I in section showingthe apparatus as it appears when embodled in a water softener.

Referring to the figure, it will be seen that tion of the casing 1,thus. causing a very 100 'in any other suitable manner. portion of thetank communicates by way of 1928. Serial No. 272,701.

the device comprises a casin 1 which is a storage casing, and'which a socarries the softening material 2 and a bed of coarse gravel 3 adjacentits lower end. This coarse gravel surrounds a distributor 4 which mayconsist, as\shown in the figure, of an 'up-' right pipe-like memberhavin apertures and having distributing fins 5. T e storagetank 1 has astorage space 6 in its upper portion for the softened water. It may beprovided with a removable cap 7 held in place in any suitable manner, asby means of the clamp shown. 1

Adjacent this tank a smaller tank 8 is positioned and is similarlyequipped with a.

removable cap 9 held in place by a clamp, or

the pipe 10 with a pipe l1leading. to the distributor 4, and alsocommunicates with .a pipe 12 leading to the waste or sewer. Valves 13and 14 are interposed in the pipes 11 and 12. i

Preferabl above the tank 8 an ejector 15 is positione and isconnected atits discharge end with a pipe 16 leading to the upper portion of thetank 8. It is provided w1th an inlet portion 17 communicating with'theupper ortion of the main casing 1. The injector 1s further provided witha nozzle 18 connected to the hard water supply pipe 19, such pipe beingvalve 20. I

The upper portion of the casing 1 is connected by means of a pipe21within a downwardly extendin waste pipe 22 controlled by the valve 23 anwith an outlet pipe 24 for the softened water controlled by valve 25.

The o erationv of the apparatus is as follows ssuming that the watersofteneris in normal operation andthatwater is with-' drawn therefromthrough the discharge or outlet pipe 24 This water is replaced by theincoming freshwater from the pipe 19 which squirts downwardly throughthe nozzle 18 of The lower I preferably provided with a a the ejectorand consequently sucks water from the upper portion of the casing 1 andpasses itdownwardly together withth incoming water into the distributorat the lower pormuch increased volume of ,water to flow through thesoftening material.

It has been found from actual tests conducted with this device that avery much smaller quantity of softening material may be employed thanhas heretofore been possible, and that as the demand is increased thetotal quantity of water passed through the softening material increasesvery much more than the amount of water withdrawn from the softener. Inother words, the softener has a very much increased capacity over thesofteners as usually constructed, as it provides for the passage of thewater several times through the softening bed.

In rejuvenating this softener, salt is placed in the tank 8 and thevalve 25, is closed. The valve 23 is opened and consequently the incoming water dissolves the salt in the tank 8 and causes a circulationof brine upwardly through the softening material. It is to be noted thatthis brine passes through the softening material several times before itis discharged into the waste pipe 22. If desired, a period of soakingmay be allowed, although it is not necessary with this type of device,as the brine is passed so many times through the softening materialbefore it is finally discharged that complete rejuvenation takes place.In addition to this, the softening material is very much more thoroughlywashed after the brine has been used up as the flow of water through thesoftening material is very much greater for the same size of apparatusthan has heretofore been possible.

When it is desired to clean the salt tank 8 for any reason whatsoever,the valve 14 may be opened and the incoming water will then sweepdownwardly through the auxiliary tank 8 and discharged to the waste pipe12.

In addition to this, it may be desirable to drain the apparatus atcertain times. For instance, when it is desired to drain only the salttank 8, the valves 13, 20 and 25 may be closed and the valve 14 opened.The cover can be removed from the salt tank and a comp ete draining cantake place. On the other hand, if it is desired to drain the entireapparatus, the valve 13 may be opened, together with the valve 14. Thevalve 20 is'closed, and either the valve 25 and a faucet in the house isopened, or else the cover 7 is removed. This allows air to enter and acomplete draining of the entire water softener may then be had.

It is to be noted particularly that with actual tests with watersofteners, a certain rating may be obtained for the softening material.This rating, if given for a small flow of water, is very high and isnever obtained in actual practice with the usual types of watersofteners where a greater flow occurs. However, with this invention thehigh rating may be easily obtained as the flow through the softeningmaterial is many times greater than the actual quantity of waterwithdrawn from the apparatus. It is thus possible to have a smallerapparatus requiring'a less amount of material and a lesser-expense forthe same quantity of discharged water than has heretofore been possible.

It is apparent that a by-pass pipe may be provided between the pipe 16and the pipe 11, with suitable valves so that the circulating water maybe by-passed around the tank 8 if required.

It will be seen that this invention can be applied to numerous otherdevices in which it is desired to cause the circulation of fluid past afluid-treating member a number of times in proportion to the amountdrawn from the apparatus.

It is therefore to be understood that although the invention has beendescribed in considerable detail, such description is intended asillustrative rather than limiting as the invention may be variouslyembodied and as the scope of such invention is to be determined asclaimed.

I claim A fluid treating apparatus comprising a closed storage casingand an auxiliary tank, a fluid treating element in the storage casing, avalve controlled fluid outlet for said casing and a fluid inlet at oneend of the casing for supplying fluid under pressure when the outlet isopened, the fluid inlet including a conduit in communication with oneend of the auxiliary tank, a supply conduit leading to the tank, aninjector connected to the supply conduit, a second unrestricted conduitforming communication between the storage casing adjacent the outlet endand the injector, whereby fluid under pressure in traveling through theinlet conduit will cause a positive re-circulation of a portion of saidfluid through this conduit when the fluid outlet is opened.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand atFort Wayne, in the county of Allen and State of Indiana.

VERNON L. TANNEHILL.

